 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2004-10-30 13:24
This morning I chatted to the principal conductor of one of the USA's top orchestras (no, I'm not going to name anybody!). He told me that the principal clarinetist in this orchestra really has a problem with using different mouthpieces. He brings about 5 along to every rehearsal and changes frequently. This apparently makes his intonation unstsble. He'll suddenly use a different mouthpiece for the concert, and his tuning will be different than in the rehearsals, which puts off the rest of the woodwind section.
Who was it who said something about throwing all but one of your mouthpieces into a river??
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-10-30 15:47
> He brings about 5 along to every rehearsal
> and changes frequently.
Well - We know for sure it's not Drucker ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
> Who was it who said something about throwing all but one of
> your mouthpieces into a river??
Bonade ...GBK
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-10-30 16:24
I have a favorite that plays well in tune on almost everything and I can trust it. However, I suffered for years with mouthpiece disease and can tell you what a pain it is to be constantly switching. I've tried everything from the complete line of Vandorens to every type of genuine Kaspar (Ann Arbor, Cicero, Chicago), Riffault, Chedevilles of various kinds, Selmers, crystal, wood, plastic, steel ebonite, every private mouthpiece maker around (Fobes, Smith, etc). I finally settled on a grenadilla wood Greg Smith made to match my Kaspar Cicero 13. But, if anyone hears of anything I should try...
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-10-30 16:41
Hi,
Actually, I have MBL (Mouthpiece and Barrel Lust) disease. I have tried several really great classic MPs and still come back to my old Portnoy BP02. Among these, like Brenda, are some of the same but not as many as she has tried. I go back and forth on sax MPs on alto only; on the tenor, it's either the metal Guy Hawkins 7 or the Dukoff fluted chamer hard rubber depending on the gig.
For barrels, I do use a Moennig, Chadash, Scott, or Butler Custom barrel but only if the 12th is off. My current "baby" is a Leblanc L200 that is so well in tune, the standard barrel is fine except in warm rooms/weather.
Surpringly, I got a couple if Mitchel Lurie M3s for $9 each and these are really great backups with a little stiffer reed but they play a tad sharp. Go figger! It's not the price, it's the....... Now if I can only figure out what the ellipsies stand for!
HRL
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Author: vrufino
Date: 2004-10-30 17:15
I admit to mouthpiece disease also, but only over the 45 year period. I stay with one mouthpiece for many years. I think the reason is the same reason that we channel surf with the tv remote. I.E. there might be something better and since life is short why not try it? We most likely do the same with reed brands, when a new one comes along, I give it a try because it might be better. I think the new FOF's are great and very consistent within the box. They beat the days I played Morre's where maybe two worked in a box!
Dr. Vincent J. Rufino
Professor of clarinet and saxophone
St. Elizabeth University
Morristown, NJ
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-10-30 17:30
I am just recovering from this horrible disease
I recently got an Eaton mouthpiece and now I only use it in rehersals and concerts. I use different ones when practicing because I am too lazy to get the mouthpiece out of the case (I use a different clarinet as wellwhen practicing too because of lazyness) so I just use the one that is the closest to me at the moment.
Still on the hunt for a bass clarinet mouthpiece.
Post Edited (2004-10-30 17:46)
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Author: rc_clarinetlady
Date: 2004-10-30 19:19
I think I've just recently become exposed to this "disease" and wish there were a golden cure!!!
I played a Wells B2 for 20 years and for some reason it has just become awful. I always said I don't know what I'll do if I have to replace the Wells and .....well, I don't. I'm now playing a Pyne Bel Canto as it seems to be fairly close, and with a narrow facing like I like but...I just read with great interest the link about the old Kaspar's and Chedeville's. Now I want to try an old Chedeville. I'm wondering about the bore on mine.....
Does it ever end??? I was just talking with my husband about my "need " for a new mouthpiece. He is a horn player and just doesn't get my latest affliction.
I'm trying to find my "sound" again and I have replaced my barrel and tried about 6 mouthpieces but I can't find the exact match. I want that sweet, sweet, warm sound of long ago along with the great articualtion, and intonation. Don't want much do I?? If anyone knows the cure to this "disease" .....Please share! I think the cure is different for all of us.
Rebecca
Rebecca
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-10-30 20:32
I just found (and purchased) a wonderful new/old stock Riffault mouthpiece. It has a wonderful tone and response, but won't replace my Smith. I still try different mouthpieces, but have learned to be "safe" on performances, etc. and stick with the tried and true.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-10-30 22:18
No matter the mouthpiece, you really end up after a while sounding like yourself no matter. As to pitch most fine players can tune on anything!
David Dow
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-10-30 22:30
DLD,
You are correct about that and that is excatly what Portnoy said about the subject. I guess we have this sound in our mind that dictates what we use as a litmus test for what is produced using different reed, MP, and ligature combinations.
Pretty subjective stuff but extremely interesting.
HRL
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Author: Ben
Date: 2004-10-30 22:34
Sounds like Frank Cohen; I've heard he's always working on his mouthpieces and has even refaced one in the middle of a concert!
But, I've heard the same thing about Gennusa and a few others. Perhaps these guys view adjusting mouthpieces like most of us view adjusting a reed? And if the reed they have seems really good and stable....
Personally, I would rather adjust my playing to a slightly imperfect reed, and make it work as well as possible than fiddle with it a lot in a rehearsal or concert. If it was really so bad to begin with, I should have chosen another, or made sure I had more available before hand. I am sure we have all had a less than perfect reed in a concert, but if you get used to it and try to make the best of it, one can still make great music and play in tune.
I guess part of it is making sure none of the reeds in your case are below a certain quality level, and spending enough time regulary to rotate/adjust new ones. That way, even if the reed you were expecting to use doesn't work at that level a particular time, you still have 5-9 others you can select from.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-10-31 01:04
Clarinet mouthpieces don't bother me so much. I've always been relatively happy with my setups except for Tenor Sax. Interesting to see Portnoy quoted, since that is the mpc that I have come to enjoy over the last few years.
Doubling considerations have demanded that I avert my eyes from custom mouthpieces. (I need to spend the money on overhauls instead!)
Allen Cole
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-10-31 10:36
I have only 1 Mouthpiece that I like to perform with and have used it for the past 20 years.
Hopefully I will die first before it does.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-10-31 16:24
Man, if I could find another one that felt like it I'd buy it myself.
It's a Gigliotti P facing that he and I picked out from about 100 of em back in 1983. My 2nd Gigliotti (or any others that I've tried) don't match it.
Unfortunately......
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Author: jmsa
Date: 2004-11-01 01:56
I also am in a search for the best mouthpiece syndrone. I play a Grabner Personal series AW mouthpiece with a Grabner custom Fat Body barrel, both are superb, however, I am waiting for 2 new mouthpieces to arrive in a few days. One is a new old stock Pomarico 2L crystal and the other is a vintage Conn precision plexiglass. Would someone please tell me the pros and cons of glass mouthpieces.
jmsa
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Author: rc_clarinetlady
Date: 2004-11-01 06:17
Does anybody know anything about having a mouthpiece refaced?
I would love to try my Wells again as that's what gave me that great sound but something is very wrong with it. I live in the KC metro area and don't know of anyone that does that around here. Thanks.
Also does anyone know if the Hites are back in production again. I understand that David passed away and his wife Jean was going to keep the mouthpieces going but I've had one on backorder since Jan. 04 and they don't anticipate me receiving it until Jan. 05 !! This is through Music 123. I called several places in NY but they didn't have any. Let me know if you know of something. I think I want an H facing but all the good things I've heard have been about the D facing. Info please??
Rebecca
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-11-01 06:17
From my experience (I have a total of 6 Pomarico crystal mouthpieces) the cons are that they are very inconsistant. Two mouthpieces of the same Brand and model can be totally different. They are usually a bit more resistant than hard rubber mouthpieces. Also they can break (the worst that happened to me is one mouthpiece chipped but non are broken so far).
The pros is that if you find a good one, it would be really good and have a great sound. The sound of crystal is different than hard rubber (for the player not for sure if for the audience too).
Trying only one crystal mouthpiece (from a model that is suppose to be good) I'd say you have a 50/50 chance that it's a good one.
Good luck.
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Author: jmsa
Date: 2004-11-01 15:27
Clarnibass, I was told that this Pomarico 2L was picked out at the factory as a excellent example. I just recieved it today and have not been home yet to try it.
jmsa
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-11-01 19:41
Quote:
The pros [of a crystal mouthpiece] is that if you find a good one, it would be really good and have a great sound. Not to mention the facing will be the same FOREVER!
Quote:
Clarnibass, I was told that this Pomarico 2L was picked out at the factory as a excellent example. Hopefully the facing is comfortable to you and you perceive the same sound as the person that picked it out. . . .
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: jmsa
Date: 2004-11-01 20:31
I play all my gigs on a carpeted floor, so no damage will occur either to my mouthpiece or my instrument.( I am woodshedding in my apartment) HA HA
jmsa
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Author: drunkenragingklezbian
Date: 2004-11-01 21:40
I noticed that regardless of what mouthpiece I was using that if I liked the muscial piece, then it sounded great. When I like the music, I am more enthusiastic and blow better.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-11-02 02:18
I read somewhere Leister keeps a version of his favorite facing which is more open for reeds that are soft...so I think it's fair to say alot of pros use different pieces.
I read that in the Vandoren mag.
David Dow
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-11-02 15:35
I like vrufino's analogy to the remote control. Some of you can remember when we didn't have them and you had to get up off your xxx and change the channel. Since that was a lot of trouble you stayed with what you had.
The thought that "something else might be better" explains a lot of human activity.
Bob Draznik
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